If ever there was a band and musician that didn’t need an introduction, it’s the venerable Udo Dirkschneider and his solo band. So, let me just say DECADENT is the band’s 15th studio effort, and first with new guitar tandem Andrey Smirnov and Kasperi Keikkinen (previous album STEELHAMMER was a one guitar effort by Smirnov).

Unfortunately, DECADENT comes wrapped in horrendous cover art that, while suiting the album’s theme of depraved behaviour of the rich at the expense of the lower classes, is not nice to look at. Once inside though, Udo and the boys are ready to treat you to another 12 classic-style heavy metal songs that, if we must pick nits, are perhaps a shade more influenced by European power metal than past efforts. At its base though, DECADENT is another U.D.O. album, top to bottom – and that’s just fine by me! Favorites include the catchy “Pain” and “Untouchable”, and the skippable ones are, as usual, the ballads (although “Secrets in Paradise” isn’t too bad). Elsewhere, Udo just can’t help himself by adding a huge amount of kitsch into the songs, as in the cheesy voice over in the title track and his high-pitched vocals in “Mystery”.

As for the musicians, Fitty Wienhold and Francesco Jovino continue to be the rock solid rhythm section that has propelled the band for a decade. Keikkinen and Smirnov are as capable a guitar team as U.D.O. has ever had, and no disrespect to the departed Gianola and Kaufmann, but nothing has been lost on the six-strings. As for the man himself, Udo sounds as great as ever. It’s amazing how well his vocals have held up over the years, never mind for a 62 year old!

DECADENT is another damn solid U.D.O. album, from a man and band that just does not disappoint.

Udo is back with easily the strongest album of his career. I anticipated the release of STEELHAMMER back in 2013 and still love it to this day so when DECADENT was announced I had high expectations for it, and it delivered in every aspect.

Opening up with the appropriately titled “Speeder” we get a high energy song that sets the pace for the majority of the album. The title track is the one that really stood out to me upon first listen with its pronounced bass lines. It has that marching vibe to it that hints at “Balls To The Wall” at times yet in a very subtle manner. Next up is “House Of Fake” which kicks it up a notch tempo-wise. This fast past track is a real headbanging song that just bakes you want to, well..bang your head. This is a real concert song that should go over well live. A song such as “Secrets In Paradise” slows it all down for a few minutes. This ballad is not out of place as Udo has released some great ones over the years especially “Dancing With An Angel” that he did with Doro. A nice mellow interlude amongst an aggressive album.

DECADENT is an album by which I feel I will be judging other releases of this year against. It is the first album of 2015 that I heard and if this is any indication of what we can expect we better break out our wallets because it will get expensive. This is one fantastic album that makes you think.

Track Listing

Speeder
Decadent
House Of Fake
Mystery
Pain
Secrets In Paradise
Meaning Of Life
Breathless
Under Your Skin
Untouchable
Rebels Of The Night
Words In Flame